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As the winter snow began to melt, a bustling scene unfolded outside Nanjing city at the Longjiang Iron and Steel Plant, which belonged to the "Da Ming Royal Merchant Guild".

The huge waterwheel drove the bellows, producing a rhythmic roar.

The craftsmen, shirtless and drenched in sweat, busied themselves around several strangely shaped behemoths.

These buildings are far superior to traditional iron smelting furnaces; they are taller, more complex in structure, and made of specially made firebricks, with towering chimneys that seem to pierce the sky.

This was precisely the foreshadowing that Suning had quietly laid as early as the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign, when it established the steel industry under the name "Mingtang Trading Company".

He knew that no matter how grand the future blueprint was, it had to be built on a solid steel backbone.

At this moment, Su Ning personally inspected the site, accompanied by Wu Zheng, the director of the Tiangong Academy, who excitedly introduced the site.

"Your Majesty is wise! The iron-smelting techniques of our Chinese nation reached their zenith during the Han Dynasty, with the crucible steelmaking process and the hundred-refinement steelmaking method renowned throughout the world. However, for thousands of years, they have ultimately served agriculture and cold weapons, and the technology has stagnated." Wu Zheng pointed to the several new-style blast furnaces, his voice rising involuntarily, "Until Your Majesty bestowed upon us the blueprints for this 'divine blast furnace' and explained in detail the methods of replacing charcoal with coke, hot air blowing, and alkaline furnace lining, we realized that the power of steel could be so immense!"

Suning nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the busy construction site.

What he provided was a prototype of blast furnace ironmaking and converter steelmaking technology optimized by modern science.

These technologies were like a breakthrough for Ming Dynasty craftsmen with a strong foundation in metallurgy, allowing them to progress rapidly.

"This new blast furnace produces more than ten times the amount of iron in a single furnace compared to the old one! Moreover, the iron produced is of a much purer quality and can be easily processed into steel!" Wu Zheng's face was filled with pride. "Your Majesty, at this rate, within six months, the output and quality of steel in our Great Ming Dynasty will surely be unparalleled in the world!"

"Output and quality are the foundation of industry," Su Ning said in a deep voice, casually picking up a piece of steel ingot that had just cooled and was gleaming with a metallic sheen, weighing it in his hand. "However, the true value of steel is revealed in its use. Minister Wu, how is the progress on those two catalogs I entrusted to you?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zheng's spirits lifted even more, and he quickly took the two thick volumes of blueprints from his attendant and unfolded them on the workbench next to him.

"Your Majesty, please look at these design drawings for the 'experimental railway' and 'diesel locomotive' made of new steel, in accordance with Your Majesty's decree."

The first volume of drawings depicts detailed designs of I-shaped steel rails, wooden sleepers, and connecting components.

The second volume of drawings is even more complex. A concept car front combining the "Tiangong Type 1" internal combustion engine with steel wheels and transmission structure leaps off the page. Although many details are still to be perfected, its ferocious industrial power is already overwhelming.

"This 'railway' design is truly a stroke of genius!" Wu Zheng explained, pointing to the blueprints. "Hard steel is laid on the roadbed to form a 'track' specifically for vehicles. The wheel flanges fit snugly against the track, greatly reducing friction. At that time, regardless of the load, travel will be ten or even a hundred times easier! If it is combined with the 'locomotive' centered around this 'heavenly machine' as envisioned by Your Majesty... I simply cannot imagine what a magnificent sight it would be! The transfer of goods and the movement of troops will no longer be hindered by mountains and rivers!"

The surrounding craftsmen and officials listened to Wu Zheng's description and looked at the unprecedented blueprints, all of them showing shock and longing.

The steel behemoths that travel thousands of miles a day, galloping across the steel network, have already exceeded their previous understanding.

Su Ning watched the crowd's reactions with satisfaction.

He skipped the steam engine and went straight to the internal combustion engine and railways because he saw the potential for a breakthrough in high-quality steel technology.

China's technological path is not incapable of being developed; it simply lacks the right direction and sufficient motivation.

"These two matters concern the fate of the nation and are the foundation of our Great Ming Dynasty for the next hundred years." Su Ning looked at Wu Zheng with a profound gaze. "Minister Wu, I entrust you and the Tiangong Academy with the important task of developing 'railways' and 'locomotives'. All necessary resources, whether personnel or materials, can be allocated with priority."

"Your subject will do his utmost, even unto death!" Wu Zheng bowed deeply in response.

"As for funding, there's no need to go through the Ministry of Revenue, nor is there any need to worry," Su Ning said confidently, with a hint of composure in control. "My Royal Bank and Royal Merchants will provide the Academy of Crafts with a continuous stream of support. You only need to focus on overcoming the technical difficulties."

These words sent a chill down everyone's spines.

The emperor was using his own private treasury and commercial empire to support this silent yet earth-shattering industrial revolution! His determination and boldness are evident.

"Wu Zheng, in addition, I will have the Ministry of Works cooperate with your Imperial Workshop to begin constructing the cross-river bridge using concrete and steel."

"Yes, Your Majesty. But is there a deadline for the construction of the cross-river bridge?"

"Ten years! The Tiangong project must be completed within ten years."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

"In addition, we will first build the railway line from Yingtian to Songjiang as the first experimental line of the Daming Railway."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

As I left the steel plant, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the blast furnaces, which were beginning to take shape, bathing them in a golden-red glow.

Looking back, Suning seemed to hear the long whistle of a future train and see a giant steel dragon galloping across this ancient land.

Steel is the true skeleton and lifeblood of industrial civilization.

At this moment, under his will, the bones are growing rapidly and becoming incredibly strong.

……

Despite the lingering chill of early spring, the warm pavilions of the Forbidden City were brightly lit.

Su Ning dismissed his attendants and sat opposite Prince Zhu Su on the couch. On the small table between them were several plates of delicate pastries and two cups of fragrant tea steaming hot.

Zhu Su, the fifth son of Emperor Taizu, was known for his extensive knowledge, gentle nature, and expertise in medicine and botany. He authored works such as "Jiuhuang Bencao" (Herbal for Famine Relief) and was highly regarded among the princes.

At this moment, he sat upright, his face calm, but his eyes held a hint of probing that was hard to detect.

He knew full well that the late-night private audience with his nephew, who had ascended the throne with swift and decisive means, was not merely a simple matter of reminiscing about their uncle-nephew relationship.

"Fifth Uncle," Su Ning spoke first, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable solemnity, "Do you understand my profound intention in inviting you to serve as the Governor-General of Beiping and oversee the construction of the new capital?"

Zhu Su bowed slightly: "Your Majesty's great favor in entrusting me with this important task is deeply appreciated. Overseeing the construction of the new capital is a major event for the nation, and I will certainly do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

Su Ning nodded, picked up his teacup and gently stirred the tea leaves, and said slowly, "Supervising the construction of the new capital is the official duty. I invited my fifth uncle here today to talk to him about the true weight of the title 'Governor-General'."

He put down his teacup, his gaze sharpening: "According to the ancestral system of our Great Ming Dynasty, princes were granted fiefs but not lands, were given titles but did not govern the people, and received stipends but did not manage affairs. This system may have been effective in the early years of the dynasty, but now, the imperial family members are wasting national funds and doing nothing. This is neither a blessing for the country nor a good thing for the imperial family. If this continues, it will surely lead to disaster."

Zhu Su was startled; these words hit the nail on the head.

He remained silent, waiting for the emperor to continue.

"After much deliberation, I have decided to grant the princes a new path," Su Ning continued. "The position of 'Governor-General' is the beginning. All of you uncles and brothers are of the Zhu family bloodline and share the fate of the nation. How can you sit idly by and remain completely detached from the affairs of the country? What I want is for you to become 'family members' who guard the four directions and supervise the local areas."

He explained in detail the governor's powers and responsibilities: "When Fifth Uncle goes to Beiping, he has the authority to supervise all civil and military officials, including the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, and the Military Commander of Beiping Province, to observe their performance and conduct, and to rank them as first-rank officials. If he discovers any corruption, dereliction of duty, incompetence, or those who are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant and obstruct the new policies, Fifth Uncle can report the facts directly to the Emperor. The power of impeachment is in your hands." A glint of light flashed in Zhu Su's eyes; this power was considerable.

Being able to bypass layers of bureaucracy and report directly to the emperor is tantamount to hanging a sword over the heads of local officials.

However, Su Ning changed his tone, becoming extremely serious: "But, Fifth Uncle, remember this: you only have the power to supervise and impeach, and you must never interfere with the civil affairs of the Provincial Governor or the military affairs of the Military Commander! Local government affairs have their own operating procedures. The Governor-General can observe their shortcomings, but cannot act on their behalf. This is a red line, and you must never cross it! In short, you have power, but this power is limited. It is a 'tight rein' hanging over the heads of local officials, not a 'new government office' to replace them. In addition, the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Beiping will cooperate with your appointment."

Zhu Su was an exceptionally intelligent man, and he immediately grasped the subtle balance involved.

The emperor wanted to use the imperial princes' noble status and shared interests with the country to deter and supervise the local areas, while also preventing the old problems of princes becoming too powerful, interfering in local administration, or even forming separatist regimes.

Having power enables it to function; limiting power prevents it from posing a threat.

"Your Majesty...this plan is truly..." Zhu Su took a deep breath and sincerely admired, "Brilliant! It not only allows members of the imperial family to serve the country and make the best use of their talents, but also avoids the disasters caused by the previous dynasty's regional military governors. Your subject understands."

"It's good that Fifth Uncle understands." Su Ning smiled. "I know that Fifth Uncle has always been devoted to scholarship and has made great achievements in the fields of medicine and herbal medicine. Beiping and the entire north are vast and rich in resources. While overseeing the construction of the new capital, Fifth Uncle can continue your research. I have ordered that the newly established 'Museum of Natural History' and 'Academy of Natural History' in Beiping be managed by Fifth Uncle. I hope that Fifth Uncle can add another masterpiece to the Ming Dynasty that is comparable to the 'Compendium of Famine Relief Herbs'."

This not only granted him power but also supported his personal interests, demonstrating both kindness and strictness, and showing him great care.

A warm feeling welled up in Zhu Su's heart. He rose from his seat, bowed deeply, and solemnly saluted: "Your Majesty trusts me and has considered things so thoroughly. I... can only devote myself to the cause until my dying breath! Your Majesty can rest assured about the affairs of Beiping. I will certainly fulfill my duty, both to safeguard the northern border for Your Majesty and to oversee the construction of a lasting foundation for the dynasty, and to live up to Your Majesty's great favor in supporting scholarship!"

That night, the lights in the warm pavilion remained lit until dawn.

A few days later, King Zhu Su of Zhou, with his magnificent entourage, left the capital and headed north.

His appointment not only marked the acceleration of the construction of the new capital, but also opened a new model for the participation of the Ming imperial family in the management of state affairs.

The princes, who were originally confined to their fiefdoms, saw a new way to serve the country, while the local officials also felt an invisible pressure from the direct supervision of the royal family.

The political landscape of the Ming Dynasty was undergoing profound changes due to Su Ning's brilliant move of appointing a "vassal king as governor-general".

……

On the day that King Zhu Su of Zhou's grand procession left Nanjing, the rising sun gilded the royal entourage, which was now shouldering a new mission.

On the city wall, several pairs of eyes followed the departing procession with complex expressions. Their masters were the vassal kings who had been stripped of their military power and ordered to reside in the capital.

Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu, Prince Zhu Fu of Qi, Prince Zhu Gui of Dai, and Prince Zhu Quan of Ning, among others, gathered at a corner of the city tower, gazing into the distance.

Although they were still wearing the prince's regular clothes, they felt they had lost some of their former prestige once they left their fiefdom and army.

"Fifth Brother... he's going to Beiping to become the Governor-General?" Prince Zhu Gui's tone was filled with undisguised envy and a hint of disbelief. "Your Majesty, are you serious?"

Prince Qi, Zhu Fu, snorted lightly, his gaze still following the receding dust: "The imperial edict was issued clearly, with all the ceremonial regalia. How could it be fake? The governor... supervises the local areas, impeaches officials, and reaches directly to the emperor. This power, though not as absolute as it was in his fiefdom, is still a hundred times better than us being confined to the capital as wealthy idlers!"

His words struck a chord with several people.

Since the reduction of the power of the feudal lords, although they have retained their titles and salaries and live a worry-free life, their former power, which once commanded a large following and controlled a region, has vanished, leaving them inevitably feeling depressed.

They did have their own grievances against this Emperor of Heavenly Craftsmanship.

Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu was older and more composed. He stroked his short beard and said slowly, "When His Majesty reduced our military power in the past, he said that he did not intend to turn the imperial family members into caged birds or fish in a pond, but rather to give them a greater purpose. At that time, I was skeptical, but now it seems... His Majesty is keeping his promise."

“Sixth Brother is right,” another prince chimed in, his tone becoming more enthusiastic. “Fifth Brother is known for his virtue, so it’s only natural that His Majesty would employ him. Now that this has been set in motion, surely it’s our turn next…? We can’t have all the princes crammed into Nanjing.”

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope shone in the eyes of the several vassal kings.

They began to whisper among themselves.

"If I could be released, even to a remote province as a governor, it would be better than being idle in the capital!"

"Yes! Having the power to supervise local officials and report problems directly to the authorities carries significant weight! At least we can get some real work done."

"Your Majesty's move is brilliant! It uses us, your 'own people,' to keep an eye on local officials, preventing them from deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth, while also preventing us from directly managing affairs and becoming too powerful to control. We have a place to use our talents, and the court has the convenience of supervision. It's a win-win situation."

The initial resistance and dissatisfaction with the reduction of the power of the regional military governors gradually dissipated in the face of this tangible hope.

After all, having the opportunity to leave the capital and have a certain amount of power and influence in the local area, and to realize some of one's ambitions, is far better than being a kept, empty prince.

The emperor offered them a respectable and valuable new way out.

Prince Qi, Zhu Fu, suddenly lowered his voice and said, "It seems that we will have to make a good 'performance' in the capital from now on. Only by showing His Majesty our loyalty and ability can we hope that the opportunity to be appointed as governor-general will come to us sooner."

Everyone nodded in agreement, already making plans in their minds.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Qianqing Palace.

Su Ning was listening to the report from Wang Jin, the supervisor of the Eastern Depot.

"Your Majesty, after Prince Zhou left the capital, several princes, including Prince Chu, Prince Qi, and Prince Dai, watched from the city tower for a long time, expressing their strong desire for the position of governor-general. According to our subordinates, the princes' residences have been bustling with visitors lately, but there has been much less discussion about politics and criticism of the reduction of the power of the princes."

Upon hearing this, Su Ning smiled knowingly, as if he had everything under control.

He put down his vermilion brush and said calmly, "It was expected. Giving them hope is always better than letting them despair. If the imperial family members are used well, they can be an asset in stabilizing the country; if they are suppressed, it will easily cause trouble. The Prince of Zhou's trip is an example. Let them see that as long as they are law-abiding and loyal to the king, I will not mistreat any member of the Zhu family."

"Your Majesty is wise," Wang Jin said, bowing. "In this way, the imperial clan has been appeased, and the central government's control over the local areas has been strengthened."

"Hmm." Su Ning looked out the window, his gaze deep. "This game has only just begun. Tell the Censorate and the Ministry of Personnel to pay special attention to the report sent by Prince Zhou from Beiping and not to delay it. I want everyone to see that this position of 'Governor-General' is by no means a mere formality."

"Yes! I obey your command."

Within Nanjing, a new vitality was quietly emerging among the imperial clan as Prince Zhu Su of Zhou traveled north to assume his post.

The tension brought about by the reduction of the power of the feudal lords gradually eased, replaced by an expectation and anticipation for the new role.

With his superb political skills, Su Ning successfully transformed a potential opposition group into a force supporting his consolidation of rule.

...(End of chapter)